Blotting attachment for pens



June l1, 1935. R. INNES BLOTTING ATTACHMENT Fon PENS Filed sept. 11, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet l E o T N E V IM dagli',

20m-:2T muss.'

June l1, 1935. R.'|NNEs 'BLOTTING ATTACHMENT FOR PENS Filed sept. 11, 1954 I 4 sheetsfsheet 2` l MVEHTOR.

ROBERT muis.

v rw BY ATTN June 11, 1935. R. INNES BLoTTING ATTACHMENT FOR PENS Filed Sep. 1l, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheer?l 5A sssa W i l Y.

20er-:2T was.

Patented June 11, 1935 1 1 UNITEDl STATES ,PATE-*Nr oFFlCE BLOTTING ATTACHMENT Fon IENs f Robert Innes, oldbrookfNova Scotia; Canada App1ian'mi1 september 11, 1934, serial No. 743,582

This invention relates particularly-toV a blotting attachment for pensalthough it is also applicable to blotting devices generally andan object of the invention is to provide an attachment which is relatively simple, compact and capable of presenting a usefully large, well supported and well cushioned surface of blotting medium.

According to the invention, the attachment comprises a container adapted to contain a blotting strip and means for projecting a portion of said strip from the container that may -take the form of a foldable bridge member which, in unfolded position, has'a length substantially greater than any cross sectional length of the attachment. The invention also includes means for permitting movement of` the strip only outof the container and a closure member for holding the movable parts or the bridge member in folded position when the device is not 'in use. The blot-I Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionv through one form of attachment in open or operative condition.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the same form in closed or inoperative position and shows how the attachment may be applied bodily to pens originally made without it.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the attachment removed from a pen and without the blotting container. A Y l Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of attachment in open or operative position. Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of'the form shown in Figure 4 but in closed position.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of a form similar to that shown in Figure 4 but with a dilerenttype of closure member.N

Figure '7 is a longitudinal section of another form of attachment in open position.' l

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of the form shown in Figure'f'? in closed position.

the une 9 9 of Figure 7.- ,y

Figure 10 is a longitudinalA sectionofy a further form of attachment in open-position.

Figure l1 is a longitudinal elevation of the form shown in Figure 10 in closed' position."

Figure 9 is a crosssectional view taken along 1 Figure 12 is a perspective view of one means for attaching the bridge member to the closure member, whenthe latter is in the form of a door.

l Figure 13 is a perspective view of means, alternative' to those of VFigure 12,for attaching the bridge member to a door.

Figure 14 is a view of a form of door, l'embodyingmeans for permitting the blotting strip to move only out'ofl the container.

Figure l5 is a partly sectional view of a simple form of means for holding two doors closedbut which does not permit one door to be held closed while the'other is being closed. s

- Figure 16 is a detail sectional view showing alternative means for permitting the blotting strip to move only out or" the container'.

Figure 1'7A is a View partly in 'section' showing means whereby, when two doors are used'to close Figure 20 is a longitudinal section of the 'form shown in Figure v19 in closed position.

`Figure 2l/isa perspectivek view 'of the attachment of Figure 19 removed from the pen'and vwithout the blotting container. l

yFigure 22 is a detail perspective View of asliderl to-which one end'of'the bridge member in the form shown in AFigure 19 Ais attached.

Figure 23 is a perspectiveview of an alternative form of holder for the blotting paper including a connecting member for mounting the holder in the: endof a' pen or other receiving member.

Figure-24is`a longitudinal sectional elevation of the structure shown in Figure 23. f

Figure- 25 illustrates in sectional elevation an alternative form ofv bridge'member and resilient meansv for an attachment ofA this character, also illustrating the use of a holder similar to the type illustrated in Figures 23 andr 24 but employinga concave top instead of aconvex top.

l Figure 26 is a sectional elevation of the device shown in Figure 25 but in folded position.

VFigure 27 is a` sectional elevation of one form of the invention as applied to a desk set instead of a pen, the form of blotter holder and associated r parts being of the type illustrated in Figures 23 and 24.

- Fig-ure 28 is a detail perspective of an alternaing outwardly as shown in Figure 1.

way for the blotter, a rotary member for holding and ejecting the blotting paper and a different form of securing means for the rubber bridge member.

In the form of attachment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, I indicates the uppermost end of a pen cap or of an extension attached to it by a screw threaded portion 2, in Figure 2. The attachment is'preferably connected to the pen cap after the manner of therinner tubular portion in the caps of pens such as the Parker Duofold, that is its uppermost portion 3, of the same diameter as the pen cap, is milled and .a portion 4 of reduced diameter immediately below it is screw -threaded and engagesv with lcorresponding screw threads on the interior of the ,pen ,cap at the top thereof. From the screw threaded portion of the attachment extend v:two pleirs f5 and 6 which have, at their lower ends, horizontal grooves 'l into which t projections 8 on a holder 9 adapted to contain a blotting strip I0`. 'I'he holder or magazine 9 is the container proper-for the blotting strip although that .portion of the cap o r attachment designated by the numeral I in'Figure 2 vor its lequivalent 'is` the ,container for the apparatus as a whole and, thereforegmay be referred to generally as `a container. Likewise the -member 3 and holder vcoupled therewith and equivalent structure in other illustrations ,may be similarly designated. v

'Ihe closure member for the attachment in the present formconsistsof two doors II and I2 open- These doors have passages therein for the `blotting strip and on the door II is provided means for permittingthe blotting strip to move only out of -the con" tainer. 'I'hese means as shown in `Figures 14 .or 16 are in the form of a preferably saw edged member I3 extending into the passage in the path of the blotting strip in such a manner that, if an attempt were made to pull .the strip upwardly Vin Figures 14 or 16, the member I3 would bite into it. On the other hand, the roller structure I3a'in Figures k25 and 28 to be `described later on performs the same function. i

.Connected to the two doors is afoldable resilient bridge member I4, preferably made of rubber with, if desired, a fabric' centre .or 'backbone for yadded strength. Notches I5 are'cut .in the member I4 on both sides to facilitate its folding when the doors 'are closed. The bridge member maybe connected to the doors in any suitable manner, that shown in Figure 1 being yillustrated in detail in Figure 12 where each door is formed in the side which is uppermostl when the dooris open with a T-shaped slot I 6, the bar of thevT being preferably at an angle to the leg. A base member II is fixed to each end of the bridge, `lthis base member being formed with a 1f-shaped projection I' cooperating with the T-shaped slot in the doorto connect the bridge member. v

When the attachment is to be made ready for use, a containertwith a blotting strip is attached and the strip fed out through vthe passage in the door I2. The bridge member is then connected and the strip is fed over this latter and out through the passage in the door II. The doors are then closed so that the device assumes the position shown in Figure 2 where an alternative form of attachinentf'for the container by means of spring clips la is shown, and are. held closed by means such as those shown in Figures 15 Yor 17. In this position the attachment is screwed into the pen cap and is ready for use. Upon remanner.

A new surface of the blotting strip may be .presented whenever the attachment is open by ,Simply pulling the end 0f the Strip projecting from 4th'e door II and tearing it olif along the .upper :side rof- `the :passage which is made sharp for thispurpose. When a new surface is desired forV the Anext time the device is opened, the doors f maybe partially closed and the end of the blotyting stripsthen pulled out -and torn off so that the strip is in the position shown` by dotted lines I9 Figure 2. When the doors are opened the ,next time a fresh part of the striaautomatically (29111.65 into 905.113011- "1f-he form of attachment shown in Figure4 differs incertain respects from that shown in the preceding figures..

open ended member 2,0 having a removableclcsure I at `the bottom thereof. The holder Aor magazine 59 for the blotting strip is ,movable in the member and is urged upwardly by a Spring 22.y [I 'Q .the top of vthe holder or magazine 9 is attached a resilient bridge member23 of .a different form from that shown in Figure 1 lbut being like the latter so formed that in unfolded positionit has :a length substantially greater `than any .cross sectional length of the attachment.

YIn Figure f6 the attachment is of the? same form as in Fig-ure l4 but instead of a door a screw threaded cap y2li is-used asa closure for the device.

The form of attachmentof YFigures 'l and 8 has `the-advantageof being unitary in that the blotter holder is formed as one Ywith the rest of the attachment. I -n this form, the part of the attachment below- :the screw threaded f portion is eX- teriorly ycylindrical :but .one `side is cut away as indicated at 255 in `Figure 9..

Upwardly and downwardly convexed cross pieces 26 and 2 1 respectivelyare provided .and between these the attachment is interiorly rectangular in cross section for the reception of a roll of, instead of a folded blotting strip which is supported on a spindle 28. The method of Vconnecting the resilient `bridge member'to the doors shown in this figure and illustrated more in cle-- tail in Figure 13issomewhatdifferent from that previously described. According tol it the ends of the bridge member are `provided with grooves 29 and the sides of the doors which are uppermost when `the doors are open are cut away to leave tongues ,30. which :fitinto lthe grooves 29.

The bridge member shown in Figure 7 is of heavier .construction that shown in Figure l and has a circular hole 3| in it Ito enable it to fold properly.

The form of attachment illustrated in Figure 1,0I differs from the other forms` only in so far as the bridge member is concerned, the latter being in this case of thin yspring metal, covered with rubber `if desired. The bridge is notched at `the centre at 32 in order to, ensure that it should fold d0,wnward lyl and is connected to the Ilnfthis form the legs 5 and 6. are much shortened and to them is attached an acogen) ends ofthe doorsv which `are outermost whenl they areopen. f

In Figure 15 'is illustrated the simplest form of means for holding'the doors of the attachment closed when the latter is not in use. As illustrated, these comprise simply a forkl 33 pressed inwards by a spring 34 and having an exterior knob 35 by means of which it may be pulled out. The ends of the fork enter openings 36 inthe doors illustrated in Figures 13 and 14. 4 v

Figures 17 and 18 show a form of means which permit one door to be pressed shut and then the other without the holding-means, thereby releasing the iirst. Thesemeans comprise a member 31 having resilient tongues 38 adapted to `enter the openings 38 in the doors, the member being pressed inwardly'by leaf springs 39. Belowl the tongues the attachment 'is cut away as at 40y to permit the tongues to be pressed down bythe lower edges of the doors as the latter close. When the tongues are pressed down they bear against the sides of the doors until they enter the openings 36, the leaf springs 3.9 being strong enough to prevent the member 31 as a whole from being pressed outward. To releasethe doors the member 31 is pulled outward by means of the downturned portion 4 I.

Figures 19-22 show amodified form of attachment in which one door, instead of two, is used. In this form the leg 6 is formed not only with` a groove 1 but also with a longitudinally extending T-shaped groove 42 in which can run a complementarily shaped'projection 43 on a slider 44. The resilient bridge member 45 has one end attached to the slider and the other end to the door 46. As the door is closed a downward pressure is excited on the slider which thus moves toward the position in which it is shown in Figure 20 and which it occupies when the dooris fully closed. lWhen the door is again opened it is pulled upwardly to the position of Figure 19 byv the bridge member. The blotting strip passes upwardly toward the bridge member through a passage 41 formed in the slider 44. c

In Figures 23 to 27 I have illustrated further alternative forms of construction which for various reasons .may be considered'as a'preferred type of construction. y

' On referring to Figures 23 and 24, the blotter holder 9 takes the form of a casing preferably square in cross section closed at its lower end and provided with a convex hinged cover 48 which does not cover the area ofthe top, leaving a space 49 through which the blotting strip may be fed; This holder is rigidly mounted within a collar 59 which is of diameter corresponding to the diameter of the pen or other mounting in which it. nts, the outer surface of the collar being ridged or knurled as illustrated. This collar is reduced in its upper and lower extremities to provide the screw threaded nipples 5I and 52, the threads of the nipple 5I being preferably of a different size to those of the nipple 52 so that it cannot be wrongly inserted in its mounting. The screw threaded nipple 52 is designed to fit into the upper end of a pen cap I', as illustrated in Figure 25, and an extension or the like 53 car# rying the doors I2 is designed to be screwed onto the threaded nipple 5 I.

Thus a very simple form of construction is Yprovided which may be removed' it being necessary to remove the collar and holder from the pen cap.

Figures 25 and `26, apart from lillustrating the manner in which the type of holder illustrated in Figures 23 and 24 is mounted, illustrate a modified'form of door construction, bridge member and associated resilient means for opening the doors when released. They also illustrate a slightly different form of cover for the holder 9 to cooperate Vwith the modiiied form of bridge structure.

According to this alternative construction, the doors II and I2 have a coil spring 54' extending between them functioning to 'exert a pressure against the doors tending to open them so that. when they are released, they will open automatically to the position shown in Figure 25.

within thedoors II and I2 and alsov` mounted on the coil spring and extending between the doors is a bridge member 55 of the floating type which is notched at its ends as at 56 'so that, when the doors are closed asillustrated in Figure 26, the coil spring will fit within the notches 56 and the structure will compactly iit together. 'I'he bridge 55 will provide a surface upon which the strip of blotting paper may rest vwhen the doors I I and I2 are open and, coupled with the coil spring 54, provide a yielding surface similar to a Vrubber bridge member for the blotting operation.l y

'With this type of construction the cover of the blotterfholder is changed to aslightly concaved member 51, as illustrated in Figure 25, while the inner walls of the extension 53 are Valso slightly concaved as indicated at 58 toprovide forthe housing of the coil spring when the blotter construction is in folded position.

On viewing Figure 26 it will be noted that the coil spring is housed veryr neatly and in such a manner that no undue'strain is placed upon it so that this typeof construction would be-very durable. f 'f In Figure 27 ythe invention is sho-wn as applied to pen sets-wherein a tubular housing 59 is provided instead of,I the end I of la pen cap, thehousing 59 being providedwith a suitable base 60 which may rest in a suitable recess formed in a pen holder base 6I. Inthis illustration the blotter holder and the other construction are f similar to that shown in Figures 23 and 25 ywith the exception that a rubber bridge member I4 of the type illustrated in AFigure 8 has been shown andthe cover 48 of the blotter holder is Aconvex as VinFgure 23, -to illustrate the utility of such al cover which` functions to press against the rubberbridge when in its folded position, thus providing for a more instantaneous and positive opening of the doors when they are released since the convex cover tends tourge the rubber bridge member upwardly.

Y -In the illustrations covered by Figures 23 to 27 the blotting strip is shown in vertically disposed folds,`the portion in use passing through the space 49 -at the top of the blotter holder and being slotted through the doors Il and I2 in a somewhat similar manner to that previously described inv connection with other forms of the invention.

However, an alternative form of slotting the blotting strip through the doors is illustrated in Fig-Y necessity ofV threading it through.

They v ends of the coil spring 54 are suitably mounted- On the door ll I have provided -agsmall rollen 63 suitably mounted, under which the blotting strip may be threaded asfgenerally illustrated in Figure 25, and the roller- 63 may be roughened or ridged so that it will hold the blotting strip in a somewhat similar manner to the toothed member I3 illustrated inFigure 18 while, on the other hand, by rotating the roller in a clockwise direction itr may function as an ejector to pull out the used portion of blotting paper but primarily will assist in the slotting of the paper since, on engaging the strip with the roll and rotating the roll, the blotting paper is immediately placed in position in door l I. Also illustrated in Figure 28 is an alternative method of securing the rubber bridge member by providing upstanding lugs 64 which may be pressed into the sides of `the rubber bridge member to hold it' when it is mounted within the housing portion 65 of the doors Il and I2.

. ,AVfurther feature which Will be noted onrefer'- ringto Figures 25, 26 and 28 is that the doors are -jv trated in Figure 25, will follow the natural rounded contour which will permit the blotting paper to move more readily when pulled and, when the doors Vare folded, the rounded edges provide for plenty of room and obviate any possibility of a tight fit Which might bring aboutjamming of the doors. This type of door construction isV preferable for these reasons and it will be understood that it may readily be incorporated in place of the other type of construction illustrated in other figures if desired. v

It is to be understood that the various modifications described are only illustrative of many possible ones and that various alternative forms of parts ofthe attachment maybe used with alternative forms of other parts not actually shownl in the drawings Withthem. Thus,vfor example,

the form of connection of the bridge memberxto the doors in Figures 7 and-.13 may be-used/ with the form of attachment shown in Figure 1 and the form of connection in Fig-uresl and/,12,maybe used with the attachment of-Figure '7. It is obvious that further interchanging of parts as between the illustrations-made is possible. Theinvention is, therefore, to `be limitedv only by the terms of the appended claims. i

Iclainrj j f l. Ak blotting attachment-for pens comprising a container adapted to house a blotting strip, a releasable closure member for the container y and resilient means for projecting a portion of said blotting strip beyond said container when said closure member has been released. l

' 2. A blotting attachment for pens :comprising a container adapted to housel ablotting strip, a releasable closure member for the container and resilient means for projecting a portion of said blotting strip of a size greater than the cross sectional width of the container beyond said container when said closure member has beenr released.

3. A blotting device forpenfsets and the like comprising a container `adapted to house a blotting strip, a releasable ,closure member therefor and resilient means for projecting a portion of said blotting strip beyond said container when said lclosure member has been released. V

4. A blotting attachment for pens comprising a container adapted to house a blotting strip, means for permitting movement of the blotting strip only out of theycontainer, a `releasable closure member for said container and resilient means for projecting a portion of said blotting vstrip beyond said container forblotting purposes when said closure member has `been released. Y

5. A blotting attachment for pens, comprising a container adapted to` contain a blotting strip, means for permitting kmovement of the blotting strip only out of the container, a Vfoldable bridge member having in unfolded position a length substantially greater lthan any cross sectional length of. the attachment and in such position supporting the blotting strip for blotting purposes and a closure member for holding said bridge member in folded position when the attachment is not in use. n

6. A blotting attachment for pens, comprising a container adapted to contain a blotting strip, means for permitting movement of the blotting strip only out of the container, a foldable resilient bridge member having in unfolded released position va length substantially greater than any cross sectional` length of the attachment'and in such position. supporting the blotting strip for blotting purposes, and a closure member for holding said bridge member in folded compressed position when, the attachment is not in use.

'7. A blotting attachment for pens, comprising a container adapted to contain a blotting strip, means for permitting movement of the blotting strip only out of the container, afoldable bridger member having in unfolded position a length substantially greater than any cross sectional length of the lattachment and in such position supporting the blotting strip for blotting purposes, `at least one doorfor, when closed, holding said bridge member in folded position, and means for maintaining said door closed when the attachment is notin use.

8. A blotting attachment for pens, comprising a container adapted .to contain a blotting strip,l

at least one door, means .on said door for ypermitting movement of theblotting strip only out of the container, a foldable resilient bridge member constantly urging said door to open position, said member having in unfolded position, with the door open, a length substantially greater than any cross sectional length of the attachment and in such position supporting the blotting strip for blotting purposes, and means for maintaining the door closed and the bridge member in folded compressed position when the attachment is not in use.

9. A blotting attachment for Vpens comprising a container adapted to contain a blotting strip, a pair of doors, means on one of said doors for permitting movement of the blotting strip only out of the container, a foldable resilient Ybridge member connected to said doors `and constantly urging them to open position, said member having in unfolded position, with the 'doors open, a length substantially greater than any cross sectional length of the attachment and in such position supporting the blotting strip for blotting purposes, and means for maintaining the door closed and the bridge member in folded compressed position When the attachment is not in use. 10. A blotting attachment for pens comprising acontainer adapted to contain a blotting strip, a pair of doorsy having passages therein for the blotting strip, means on one of said doorsv for permitting movement of the blotting strip only out of the container, a foldable resilient bridge member connected to said doors and constantly urging them to open position, said member having in unfolded position, with the doors open, a length substantially greater than any cross sectional length of the attachment and in such position supporting the blotting strip for blotting purposes, and means for maintaining the door closed and the bridge member in folded compressed position when the attachment is not 1n use.

11. A blotting attachment for pens comprising a container,` adapted to contain a blotting strip, a pair of doors having passages therein for the blotting strip, means on one of said doors for permitting movement of the blotting strip only out of the container, a foldable resilient bridge member connected to said doors and constantly urging them to open position, said member having in unfolded position, with the doors open, a length substantially greater than any cross sectional length of the attachment and in such position supporting the blotting strip for blotting purposes, and means for maintaining one door closed while the other is open and for permitting both doors toopen simultaneously.

12. A blotting attachment for pens, comprising a container adapted to contain a blotting strip, at least one door, means on said door for permitting movement of the blotting strip only out of the container, a foldable resilient bridge member constantly urging said door to open position, said member having in unfolded position, with the door open, a length substantially greater than any cross sectional length of the attachment and in such position assuming an outwardly convex form to support the blotting strip for blotting purposes, and means for maintaining the door closed and the bridge member in folded compressed position when the attachment is not in use.

13. A blotting attachment for pens comprising, at one end thereof, a container adapted to contain a blotting strip, at the other end thereof, a door, means on said door for permitting movement of the blotting strip only out of the container, a slider movable between the ends of the attachment, a foldable resilient bridge member having one end attached to said door and the other end to said slider and constantly urging said door to open position, said member having in unfolded position, with the door open, a length substantially greater than any cross sectional length of the attachment and in such position supporting the blotting strip for blotting purposes, and means for maintaining the door closed and the bridge member in folded compressed position when the attachment is not in use.

14. A blotting attachment for pens and the like comprising a container adapted to contain a blotting strip, a pair of doors having passages therein for the blotting strip, a bridge member designed to extend between said doors when opened to form a support for part of said blotting strip, a coil spring secured to and extending between said doors, said bridge member being mounted on said coil spring, said coil spring normally urging said doors to open position, said coil spring andl bridge member being movable to a position within said container when said doors are moving to closed position, and means for locking said doors in closed position.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14 in which the bridge member is notched at each end to receive a portion of the coil spring when the bridge, coil spring and doors are in their folded position.

16. In a blotting attachment, a container adapted to contain a blotting strip, said container being closed with the exception of one end and having an hinged cover to t over said end, said container being formed to provide an opening through which a blotting strip may pass, said container having a collar-like member projecting therefrom intermediate its ends, said collarlike member having means on each side thereof for connecting with a holder on one side and for receiving a casing on the other side, said casing being provided with at least one door, means in connection with said door for receiving the blotting strip, resilient means for normally urging said door outwardly to project a portion of said blotting strip beyond said casing when said closure member is released, and means in connection with said casing for locking said door in closed position.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16 in Which the means on each side of the collar for connecting with the holder and the casing comprise screw threaded nipples, the threads of each nipple differing, lwhereby said nipples can only be connected with the part for Which they are intended.

18. The device as claimed in claim 16 in which the cover for the container is. curved to co-operate with the resilient member connected with said door.

19. An attachment for pens comprising a container adapted to house a blottingr strip, releasable closure members for said container to which said blotting strip is attached, one of the said closure members being slotted substantially from one side to the other whereby said blotting strip may be slipped into it from one side, the other member being slotted to receive the end of the strip, and including means for firmly holding said strip, and resilient means connected with said doors for projecting a portion of said blotting strip beyond said container when said closure member ha-s been released.

20. The device as claimed in claim 19, in which the securing means in one of said closure members includes a roller having a rough surface, said roller also functioning as a means to facilitate insertion of said blotting strip in said closure member.

ROBERT INNES. 

